Coming out of the winter, track and field is geared to have its best season yet.
The winter track season is always tough for the Fords: sunless practices, cold conditions, mental burnout, and the injuries that plague runners during the dark months. For many athletes, staying healthy has been a priority.
“I’ve been focusing on my body for the spring season,” Fifth Former Michael Crutchlow said. “After two full seasons of running this year, I definitely think right now is the most important point to avoid injuries.”
The darker months, however, give athletes a chance to improve when others take a break. Fourth Former Ahijah Goins, who serves as team co-captain, believes the winter season is one of the best opportunities to grow as an athlete.
“I believe that all the runners from the winter seasons have grown tremendously in their track careers not only just physically but mentally,” Goins said.
Coach James Hawkins agrees. He believes the harsh conditions of the winter give athletes an edge.
“You gain confidence from being out in the cold and working through it,” Coach Hawkins said.
Coach Hawkins also believes the compact atmosphere at competitions in the winter gives athletes an advantage during the spring season.
“Participating in an indoor track meet—where it’s more—consolidated is tough,” Coach Hawkins said. “When you take the confidence it takes to compete in front of your family that’s right over top of you to outdoor [competitions], it just brings out the best of every athlete.”
Beyond new events and environments, the spring season gives runners much to look forward to.
“Mentally, the spring season is better than the winter season since the sun is shining,” Fifth Former Team Co-Captain Alex Dardarian said. “Physically, it’s the same thing; warmth is a savior.”
Sixth Former Jey Brown agrees. He believes the warmer weather gives the team the chance to focus and work their hardest.
“Going when it’s twenty or thirty degrees is super hard,” Brown said. “But when it’s sixty to eighty, everybody’s happier and more ready to go. With the warmer weather comes harder practices.”
Crutchlow agrees.
“As the weather warms up and the sun comes out and new things get put into our training, I think a lot of my teammates have begun to get more focused and excited,” Crutchlow said. “We have more opportunities. More chances to comfortably practice outside, more chances to race, and new teammates.”
Student leadership on the team is looking to capitalize on the influx of new and returning athletes.
“I will continue to welcome new athletes so that they become the best they can be,” Goins said. “The changes in team population are going to bring more positivity and structure to the table.”
The methodology for the team is not changing as the team transitions from the winter season to the spring season. Coach Hawkins believes the team will reap the benefits of consistency in training style this season.
“The only thing that’s changing will be that we will have a more complete team this year,” Coach Hawkins said. “Guys who have been with me for three years now are pretty much buying into what it is that we’re doing. I think that’s an important thing that will find us a lot of success.”
During the spring season, the team puts less focus on warming up, and more emphasis on working.
“The colder it is, the more it’s gonna take for us to warm up our bodies so that we don’t mess our hamstrings up,” Coach Hawkins said. “For the Spring, we break a lot more and we do a lot of sweat work, so we can do a lot of our faster events like the hundred-meter dash, which they don’t have during the winter.”
Practices have started on a strong foot this season, despite setbacks.
“We’ve done a lot more of our workouts in the wrestling room due to rain,” Goins said. “But practice so far has been great. The hard work we already have and will continue to put in projects that we’re going to have a phenomenal season.”
Goins is focused on the top meets, seeing them as opportunities to succeed.
“The Penn Relays, Inter-Ac Championship, and PAISAA [Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association] State Championships are just a few of the big opportunities throughout the season. I want to see plenty of PRs and growth in general,” Goins said.
“We came in third place at States two years ago, and second place last year, so it’s only right to go for first, right?”
Jey Brown ’24
Brown is looking forward to a successful season. He wants to build upon the past two years of performances to push for the crown.
“We have a lot of guys that can score for us at the Inter-Ac meet, which is exciting. I want to see as many people as possible at States as well,” Brown said. “We came in third place at States two years ago, and second place last year, so it’s only right to go for first, right?”
For Brown’s final season, they are looking to make it one to remember.
“Honestly, I’m kind of sad that this is my last year,” Brown said. “There is so much potential in the team.”
Aside from paper results, Coach Hawkins is also bent on building the team’s camaraderie.
“Continuing a great brotherhood that is not just track and field, but within the school itself, is really important,” Coach Hawkins said. “Using the school virtues to build our character within what we do on the field and outside of it as well—I think that’s an important thing that will make us a complete team this year.”
